Nansemond Swim Team competed in Junior games in Newport News

Six swimmers from the Nansemond Sharks Swim Team recently participated in the 2010 AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Junior Olympic Games in Newport News.

The Sharks qualified based on their race times during the swimming season. The Sharks compete in the Western Tidewater Swimming Association.

Delaney Wright, 9, and Hunter Ward, 9, swam the breaststroke against 9-10-year-old swimmers from all over the United States and several foreign countries.

Sisters Lauren, 16, and Bronwyn Keating, 10, and 13-year-old twins Maddie and Austin Ebel also represented the Sharks.

Austin Ebel competed in eight events. He finished fourth in the 200-meter backstroke (2:36.33) and the 1,500 freestyle (20:19.81). Austin was fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:38.04), 200 free (2:19.17) and 400 individual medley (5:37.04). He also was in the 100 back, 100 breaststroke and 50 free.

Maddie Ebel raced in the 50 freestyle, finishing in 33.29 seconds. Bronwyn Keating raced in six events. She finished third in the 50 free (34.50), fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:30.69), fifth in the 100 free (1:21.18) and sixth in the 200 free (2:58.24). Lauren Keating was in four races, with a fourth-place finish in the 50 free (29.58) and a sixth in the 100 free (1:05.78) as her top finishes.

Team members were awarded medals or ribbons based on their placement during each event.

Many swim team parents donated their time during the weeks events participating as timers, stroke judges and as other officials to make the Junior Olympics a success.